6 years later and I am ready to try again.

I would first go to your DMV and ask if your CDL can be reinstated. for a fee of course

They already have on record that you had one.

Why go through it all over again if you don’t have to..

 

Hey, Amy! Why would you want to be locked into a contract with Prime Inc? You don't need a company to sponsor your L. You can probably get your license again with "no-strings attached" this time around. See if you qualify to have your CDL funded by the WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) program. Connect with a career counselor at a local job center to learn about eligibility requirements.

Visit the Delaware Skills Center for more info
Address
500 Ships Landing Way, Twin Spans Industrial Park, New Castle, Delaware 19720

Phone Number
(302) 654-5392
Website
https://www.deskillscenter.org/

 

As stated above, I would definitely check with your DMV and see if you can get your CDL reinstated before going through the whole process again if you dont have to. Maybe you can get by with an abbreviated/ refresher course.
Also look into a company and start as a company driver, prime is going to push the lease on you and in today's market that is a big NO. If you do have to start all over again look into someone like Roehl since it sounds like you are seeking company training. Of course they are going to take the cost of the program out of your pay check and you will be expected to stay with them until its paid off..and you will pay at least triple the price over what you would going to a community college. If you go that route you are free to go wherever you want and you will likely qualify for a grant to pay for it.
Go get your year otr, experience, see the country, and if you do plan on a family in the future the ltl world home daily stuff is open to you when that time comes.
If you do decide to go the comm college route I would recommend May trucking, thats where I started and there you will definitely get the full OTR all weather conditions driving. After a year of that you can go just about anywhere. Good luck!

 

To reinstate a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) that was surrendered in Delaware, you must go through the full application and testing process again. There is no simple reinstatement fee to reactivate a surrendered CDL, as it is considered canceled.

Had she'd have just renewed her DOT physical before the expiration date, she wouldn't have been required to surrender the license. She doesn't have any other choice but to start over.

 

Absolutely yes you should get your CDL, and yes you can do it. Truckers will always give you the downsides but yet we are all out here doing it. A CDL is still a ticket to practically guaranteed employment anywhere, and even though compared to past market conditions, current times are not exactly sunshine and rainbows, you will still be doing a lot better than $500 a week. Good luck!

 

I'll add a couple more companies, but not sure how much West Coast runs they have from your area.
~
Here's the first one:
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Roehl Transport
Dog or cat pet policy.

 

Put this one at the bottom of the list because these are dedicated runs usually to stores such as Walmart.
Can get a transfer to the Southwest for dedicated runs there but will need an address and change your cdl to that address.
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Refrigerated Transport Services | Schneider
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What are you going to do with your dog for the 2 months or more you are with a trainer? You might check if Prime will allow you to carry your dog (breed or weight restriction) after you have your own truck. I also think they used to have a "no dogs for first 90 days" for newbies.

Having the dog does help a lot with loneliness. I carried my Beagle-Border collie mix for years.

I hope you know to ignore what recruiters & company web pages "promise" about their job. They are car salesmen not your partner in picking the right employer.

Also I hear Prime does not force you into leases, they may endlessly describe how great it will be but they only ask once and the accept your answer. Ladies may have a choice between waiting weeks & weeks to get a female trainer or train with a man now. There are very few women trainers anywhere.

 

Drive for Dot Transportation out of their terminal in Bear, DE

Easily one of the best gigs in your area -- & they hire/train NEW drivers!

-- L